BJP MPs serve ultimatum to PM

Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi

Fourteen Bharatiya Janata Party members of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh have served an ultimatum to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to either remove the restrictions on the movements of karsevaks in Ayodhya or be prepared to face serious consequences, including "attacks on the minority community."

In a hard-hitting letter to Vajpayee, the MPs have recalled their meeting with him on March 5, 2002 when they were assured that all hurdles in the way of 'Ram bhakts' visiting Ayodhya would be removed.

Lamenting that there was an undeclared curfew in Ayodhya, the MPs pointed out that the people of Ayodhya and the thousands of pilgrims who visit the temple town every day are angry. "The discontent is rising. If the situation slips out of hands, it could have disastrous consequences," the MPs said.